Adventures & Howling: A trip to Twycross Zoo

Importantly, for me, Twycross Zoo has an ethos firmly rooted in conservation and education. To date, they have been involved in 55 conservation projects and has an extensive research programme in place. To me, this is a fundamental aspect of all zoos, and nature centres, as it provides a bedrock of supporting animal conservation in the wider world, and increasing knowledge of environmentalism, and conservation in the general public... which is really important!

We can hear animals screeching as we enter through the gates, and immediately head in their direction. A bustling crowd of people are standing on a bridge smiling and pointing at the source of all the noise. We look and see a troupe of Black-and-Gold Howler Monkeys doing what they do best…

“We unfortunately live in a world where many species of both plants and animals are on the brink of extinction. Zoos form a global community that works together to maximise their impact on global conservation. At Twycross Zoo – East Midland Zoological Society, as part of this global community, we contribute to conservation in many ways. We currently have around 150 species, many of which are enrolled in conservation breeding programmes.” [source]

Twycross Zoo made for a wonderful adventure, with so much to see and do it was a perfect day out.
Importantly, for me, Twycross Zoo has an ethos firmly rooted in conservation and education. To date, they have been involved in 55 conservation projects and has an extensive research programme in place. To me, this is a fundamental aspect of all zoos, and nature centres, as it provides a bedrock of supporting animal conservation in the wider world, and increasing knowledge of environmentalism, and conservation in the general public… which is really important!

Twycross Zoo boasts a collection of over 500 animals in it’s care, including: a vast array of primates, lorikeets, zebras, owls, penguins, leopards, and many many more. My only complaint is that I felt there were too many adventure playgrounds, and restaurants where there could have been more animal enclosures. Perhaps if I was a child I would have been happy with all the playparks, but it just seemed a bit excessive, and in the cases of the countless eateries, a little unnecessary. Perhaps I am just nitpicking because I always want to see more animals than anything else!!

Speaking of animals…

Twycross Zoo is renowned as a specialist primate zoo, and wandering around I can certainly see why! The primate residents are so fun to watch, and gloriously charming, and they really were a delight to see. Our first image of the zoo was that of the Howler Monkeys screeching and calling to each other, and it was a true spectacle. Another primate highlight was watching the adorable baby Orangutan playing on ropes and swinging around his enclosure, under the watchful eye of his mother. I also have a bit of a soft spot for Marmosets, and it was a real treat to see a whole enclosure of these little guys jumping around. Primates are so endearing, and Twycross Zoo is home to so many wonderful characters.

Did you know? That Orangutans are solitary creatures (occasionally females will create small social groups). Males and females only meet during mating. The female will then look after the baby for up to seven years.This means that females will only have a maximum of four to five babies in her lifetime. This low reproductive rate is one of the reasons they are declining in the wild, along with habitat loss (most notably due to palm oil plantations), and poaching for the pet trade.

Additional Information
The zoo is fully accessible.
There are a variety of cafes, shops, and restaurants available on site.
Also available on site is the Wet’n’Wild water park, a soft play area, and an array of adventures playgrounds for children.
Animal experiences are also available, check them out here.
You can also access the nature reserve next to the zoo from the car park, which makes for a beautiful walk after your trip to spot some native wildlife.

Welcome to Fluffy Jellyfish!

I’m Chloe Henderson and Fluffy Jellyfish is all about the animals in my life!

I am a pet parent to rats, hamsters, millipedes, sea monkeys, and a praying mantis – this blog is all about their adventures, and sharing with you how I care for my animals.
I am also an aspiring zookeeper, and animal caretaker so you will learn along with me as I travel through the wonderful world of animal education!

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